Wanted: an opportunity.(My Turn)

As my name has surfaced as a candidate for different Division I college football coaching jobs, one prevailing question has been asked: Can an African-American at a historically black college coach at the major college level?

But the real question should be: Could any of those major college coaches survive at historically black colleges and universities--or any Division I-AA school for that matter? Could Oklahoma's Bob Stoops serve as a counselor and housing director and maybe fill in some holes on the football field now and then? Then, once that was all taken care of, go out on Saturdays and win football games? Those are the realities coaches at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) deal with every day. We have to wear many hats.

This issue isn't about qualifications; it's about getting an opportunity. When you have the resources and the means, then it's a level playing field. Two former coaches in our conference, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, have found out how tough it is just going from a mid-major Division I school to an HBCU. Ron Cooper came to Alabama A&M from Louisville, and Ron Dickerson came to Alabama State from Temple. Those guys didn't last very long. I think it was tougher on them than they thought it was going to be. They thought that because they were at the Division I level, they could come down here and win games. They found out what happens when you don't have that big recruiting budget with the calling cards and the ability to travel around the country.

The difference between the resources afforded Division I programs and HBCUs is astronomical. There is disparity between the HBCUs and even Division I-AA schools.

If I go to a kid's house and LSU coach Nick Saban is there visiting, I leave. I have to pick my battles. I can't go into a sword fight with a toothpick. I can't waste all of my recruiting money chasing one kid. I have to spend my budget on guys I know we can get. If I had the same weapons as big-school coaches, I could compete with them for the top players.

You also have to look at who is playing college football. At ...